Canada Road Safety Week, which runs from May 14-20, 2024, will see increased enforcement on Manitoba roadways. The week also covers the May long weekend, traditionally a time when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sees more people on the roads.
RCMP officers will be enforcing against high-risk driving behaviours. They will also continue to use a tool given to peace officers under Bill C-46, which mandates alcohol screening. This legislation, in effect since 2018, allows a peace officer to conduct roadside screenings for the presence of alcohol without needing to have reasonable grounds to suspect impairment. The measure is aimed at deterring impaired driving and saving lives.
The Manitoba RCMP Traffic Services unit screens everyone they pull over, a practice followed by many detachments throughout the province. “Screening everyone eliminates any perception of bias, and helps us catch impaired drivers,” said Inspector Michael Gagliardi, Officer in Charge of Manitoba RCMP Traffic Services. “Everyone pulled over by RCMP Traffic Services is asked to blow into an approved Alcohol Screening Device.”
Inspector Gagliardi emphasized the need for every tool at their disposal to stop impaired driving and other high-risk driving behaviours. He pointed out that impaired driving continues to be the leading criminal cause of death in Canada, despite years of public awareness campaigns.
Assisting in enforcement are automated licence plate readers present in many RCMP vehicles. These readers can read multiple plates and run them while an officer patrols an area, allowing high-risk drivers, prohibited drivers, and stolen vehicles to be identified quickly and efficiently.
“Our boots are also still firmly on the ground,” said Inspector Gagliardi. “We are always patrolling the roadways conducting enforcement. Drive sober. Buckle up. Slow down. Stay focused. Choose to get home safely. If we all make that choice, there will be a lot less tragedy on Manitoba roadways.” The message is clear: safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play in making our roads safer.
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